RSJ no space for packing above

[Bouba]

I have just installed an Rsj on a load bearing wall and it is all gone in fine.The problem is that there is no space above the rsj for packing any mortar or slate.It is sitting very flush with the bricks.

Is this a fail when building inspector comes and visit.Because the cut in the wall was made to the precision this has happened. What is the reason/theory of packing above the rsj with mortar, slate etc.If a beam is sitting directly below the masonry without any gap is it dangerous or will it fail under load.

Thanks.

 

[Notch7]

I have just installed an Rsj on a load bearing wall and it is all gone in fine.The problem is that there is no space above the rsj for packing any mortar or slate.It is sitting very flush with the bricks.

Is this a fail when building inspector comes and visit.Because the cut in the wall was made to the precision this has happened. What is the reason/theory of packing above the rsj with mortar, slate etc.If a beam is sitting directly below the masonry without any gap is it dangerous or will it fail under load.

Thanks.

Packing is done to stop brickwork above dropping.

Id guess you must have some small gaps? Can you get some metal shims in them - some bits of flat steel.

 

[bouba123]

Hi,
No space for any shims.It isso tight that we had to hammer the beam with rubber mallet to fix in space. The beam has got no margin for even 0.5mm.

 

[23vc]

Sounds like it's sorted then, if nothing moved when the props were taken out, and you can't even fit a steel shim/thinnest bit of slate you can find in.

 

[bouba123]

So I am right to assume that as long as the bricks are sitting flush with the beam there is NO requirement for any mortar.

 

[^woody^]

Ideally you should have put a mortar bed on the beam and then jacked it up.

But if there are no voids to pack, then there is no need for packing.

Just be sure that no bricks have dropped they might look flush, but there may be gaps above somewhere. If you can tap some slate in and it goes in fairly easily, then it needs packing.

 

[rssteve]

I'd be surprised if you fitted a beam and there are no gaps even 0.5mm at some point? How did you even get such a straight line in the brickwork?